Here's How the Costa Concordia is Emerging from the Sea

The wrecked cruise liner begins its final journey.

The world's most riveting disaster tourism spectacle is about to shut down. After two and a half years and numerous setbacks and delays, the shipwrecked Costa Concordia cruise liner was partially refloated today, beginning a painstaking process that will not only right the ship, but also see it towed to a maritime scrapyard in Genoa, Italy. The supersize cruise ship, which carried 4,200 people on its final voyage, had rested in nearly 100 feet of water off the Tuscan isle of Giglio ever since it crashed onto a reef the night of January 13, 2012. Captain Francesco Schettino and five crew members were later tried for their role in the debacle, which killed 32 people.

Salvage giants Titan and Micoperi are heading the largest such operation ever attempted. The total tab will likely exceed $1 billion, more than double early estimates. Foul weather and environmental concerns contributed to a year-long delay from the original timetable. Among other hurdles, there were fears that toxic chemicals might spill into the pristine waters of the surrounding marine sanctuary.

Thus, the process of refloating the ship without causing a second disaster will proceed in carefully orchestrated phases. First, the ship is being raised about six feet off the underwater steel platforms that secured it since last September, and nudged by tugs about 100 feet away from shore. Next, to raise the ship further, technicians will attach a series of hollow steel boxes, or "sponsons." The ship will stay in place with the aid of anchors and steel cables, as well as several tugs at its side.

Over the following days the ship will be readied for its final journey with a series of chains and cables attached to the compartments on the side of the vessel away from the island. That will allow salvage crews to gradually lift the ship one deck at a time, as water is pumped out and compressed air pumped in to some 30 sponsons attached to its side. By July 21, the ship is scheduled to leave Giglio for good–escorted by ten tugs and other vessels should any emergency arise during the five-day trip to the mainland.

For many, the final moments will be bittersweet. The sight of the crippled Concordia had exerted a strange pull on the public, drawing numerous gawkers to the island of Giglio, though locals and non-voyeurs will be just as happy to bid the ship bon voyage. For those who want to watch the operation unfold, the gcaptain maritime blog has posted a time-lapse video of the refloating.

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